Weekly Policy Update |
up to Friday 2nd May 2025
Information provided by National Constructing Excellence
Local Government Association (LGA) publishes outline advice for collaboration between the government and councils to respond to climate change
On Tuesday 29 April, the LGA published a report which presents advice on how to build collaboration between the government and councils to deliver on ambitions for responding to climate change. The report emphasises the importance of place-based approaches that reflect local needs but align with national targets. Key areas include decarbonising housing through targeted retrofit strategies, reforming the energy system to support clean energy access, expanding renewable power generation by 2030, and embedding nature recovery into local planning. Ultimately, the report argues that councils must be equipped as strategic partners in climate delivery to drive progress toward net zero.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) launches consultation seeking views on proposed amendments to the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
On Wednesday 30 April, DESNZ launched a consultation which, in part one, seeks views on proposed amendments to the BUS including:
- Allowing new heat pump purchase options alongside the BUS grant,
- Expanding eligibility for low carbon heating technologies such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries,
- Reviewing potential barriers to the consumer installation journey, and
- Enhancing consumer protection by simplifying certification requirements and requiring installers to deduct grants up front.
Part 2 seeks views on the certification of clean heat installations, specifically the government’s proposal to require the Microgeneration Certification Scheme as the sole certification scheme for clean heat installations delivered through:
- BUS
- Energy Company Obligation 4
- Warm Homes: Local Grant
- Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
DESNZ announces proposals to give families greater choice when upgrading their home’s heating
On Wednesday 30 April, DESNZ announced plans to bolster ‘clean power army’ training for up to 18,000 more home retrofitters through the extension of the Heat Training Grant and launch of the Warm Homes Skills Programme. Linked to the consultation, the proposals aim to give families greater choice on upgrades to their home’s heating, including products such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, as well as offering new heat pump purchase options. More households will have access to these products and purchase options as the government intends to incentivise the uptake of heat pumps in the UK.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) publishes its ‘Progress in Adapting to Climate Change’ 2025 report to Parliament
On Wednesday 30 April, the CCC published its 2025 report to Parliament which assesses the extent to which the UK’s Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and its implementation are preparing the UK for climate change. The key messages in the report are that the UK’s preparations for climate change are inadequate, the slow pace of change indicates that adaptation is not yet a top priority across government and that a new approach is still possible.
BSI publishes groundbreaking standard for modern methods of construction
New specification to build confidence in modern methods of construction (MMC) for residential developments, provide consistency on how projects can partially or wholly adopt MMC, as well as improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of MMC solutions has been published by BSI.
Modern methods of construction for new build residential properties – Specification (PAS 8700:2025) is the first PAS to set out comprehensive requirements and processes for the deployment of MMC in residential building projects. Find out more: BSI publishes standard for modern methods of construction | BSI
The Constructing Excellence Offsite Manufacturing & Technology Group will be running an online session exploring PAS8700 in detail on 8 July. CE Offsite Manufacturing & Technology Group- PAS 8700:2025 – BRE Group Events
In the News
Hydrogen diggers get green light to use roads | Construction Enquirer News